Editing device editing print data for creating label with printer to which tape cassette is attachable

ABSTRACT

In an editing device, a controller is configured to perform: editing; and displaying. The editing edits print data for a composite label to be created by affixing at least one overlay label to a base label. A printer is configured to perform a single printing operation using an ink ribbon to print an object on a tape in a single printing color thereby creating a single label. The editing includes: determining a printing color of an object; categorizing the object to one of a base object and an overlay object; and setting a print mode to one of a shortest length mode in which a single overlay label is created for each overlay object and a fewest prints mode in which a single overlay label is created for all overlay objects having a same printing color. The displaying displays a composite label image based on the print data.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2019-122204 filed Jun. 28, 2019. The entire content of the priorityapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an editing device.

BACKGROUND

A conventional printing system is provided with a tape printer and anediting device. The tape printer creates a base label and clear overlaylabels by printing objects on tape using an ink ribbon. The overlaylabels are then affixed to the base label to create a composite label.The editing device is used to edit print data for creating the compositelabel.

SUMMARY

However, objects printed on an overlay label often do not span theentire label, such as when the objects are spaced apart from each other.Such cases lead to a waste of tape when the overlay label, created basedon print data edited on the editing device, has the same approximatesize as the base label.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present disclosure toprovide an editing device that can edit print data according to anintended purpose.

In order to attain the above and other objects, the present disclosureprovides an editing device including a controller. The controller isconfigured to perform: (a) editing; and (b) displaying. The (a) editingedits print data for creating a composite label with a printer. A tapecassette is attachable to the printer. The tape cassette accommodatestherein a tape and an ink ribbon. The tape extends in a longitudinaldirection and has a tape width in a width direction orthogonal to thelongitudinal direction. The ink ribbon has an ink color. The printer isconfigured to perform a single printing operation using the ink ribbonto print an object on the tape in a single printing color therebycreating a single label. The single printing color is identical to theink color of the ink ribbon. The composite label has a plurality oflabels including a base label and at least one overlay label. Thecomposite label is created by affixing the at least one overlay label tothe base label. The (a) editing includes: (a1) acquiring; (a2)determining; (a3) acquiring; (a4) categorizing; (a) setting; and (a6)setting. The (a1) acquiring acquires a plurality of pieces of objectdata corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of objects. Theplurality of pieces of object data represents respective ones of aplurality of object images. Each of the plurality of object images isrendered in the single printing color. The print data is created usingthe plurality of pieces of object data. The (a2) determining determinesa printing color of a target object. The target object is selected oneby one from among the plurality of objects. The (a3) acquiring acquirestape information on a target tape cassette to be used for printing thetarget object with the printer. The target tape cassette accommodatestherein a target tape and a target ink ribbon. The target ink ribbon hasthe ink color identical to the printing color of the target object. Thetape information of the target tape includes width information andopacity information. The tape information indicates the tape width ofthe target tape. The opacity information indicates whether the targettape is opaque. The (a4) categorizing categorizes the target object toone of a base object and an overlay object according to the printingcolor of the target object and the tape information of the target tape.The plurality of objects is respectively categorized to a single baseobject and at least one overlay object. The (a5) setting sets, inresponse to categorizing the target object to the overlay object, atarget tape length and a target tape orientation. The target tape lengthis a length in the longitudinal direction of the target tape used forcreating the overlay label. The (a6) setting sets a print mode to one ofa shortest length mode and a fewest prints mode. In the shortest lengthmode, a single overlay label is created for each overlay object. In thefewest prints mode, a single overlay label is created for all overlayobjects each of which has a same printing color. The (b) displayingdisplays a composite label image of the composite label based on theprint data on a display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The particular features and advantages of the disclosure as well asother objects will become apparent from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing system including a tapeprinter and an editing device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B is an explanatory diagram illustrating creation of acomposite label, in which FIG. 2A illustrates a base label and threeoverlay labels, and FIG. 2B illustrates the composite label created whenthe three overlay labels are affixed to the base label;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration ofthe printing system including the tape printer and the editing deviceaccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating steps in a main process executed by aCPU in the editing device according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a full editing screendisplayed on a display unit in the editing device according to theembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the full editing screenand a layer editing screen superimposed thereon displayed on the displayunit in the editing device according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a part of steps in a composite labelediting process executed by the CPU in the editing device according tothe embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating another part of steps in thecomposite label editing process executed by the CPU in the editingdevice according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating remaining part of steps in thecomposite label editing process executed by the CPU in the editingdevice according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the full editing screen,and the layer editing screen and a warning icon superimposed thereondisplayed on the display unit in the editing device according to theembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the full editing screen,and the layer editing screen and a confirmation screen superimposedthereon displayed on the display unit in the editing device according tothe embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating steps in a printing process executedby the CPU in the editing device of the embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a print preview displayedon the display unit of the editing device before the printer performsprinting operation; and

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the print previewdisplayed on the display unit of the editing device while the printerperforms printing operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A printing system 1 according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure will be described while referring to the accompanyingdrawings. The referenced drawings are used to describe the technicalfeatures made possible with the present disclosure. The configurationsof the apparatuses described in the drawings are merely examples, andthe present disclosure is not intended to be limited to theseconfigurations.

First, an overview of the printing system 1 will be given with referenceto FIG. 1. The printing system 1 includes an editing device 20, and atape printer 10. The editing device 20 is a common personal computer.The editing device 20 can communicate with the tape printer 10 over anetwork 100. The editing device 20 can edit print data for printingobjects on a tape 40 in order to create labels. Objects may includecharacters, graphics, symbols, and the like. The tape printer 10performs printing operations using an ink ribbon to print objects on thetape 40 based on the print data edited on the editing device 20. In oneprint, the tape printer 10 can print in only a single color.

Here, the general structure of the tape printer 10 will be described. Inthe following description, the upper-left side, lower-right side,lower-left side, upper-right side, top side, and bottom side in FIG. 1will define the corresponding left side, right side, front side, rearside, top side, and bottom side of the tape printer 10 and a tapecassette 30.

The tape printer 10 is provided with an input unit 2, a display unit 3,a cover 4, and a cassette mounting section 5. The input unit 2 isprovided in the top surface of the tape printer 10. The user operatesthe input unit 2 in order to input various information into the tapeprinter 10. The display unit 3 is provided to the rear of the input unit2. The display unit 3 displays various types of information. The cover 4is provided on the rear side of the display unit 3 and can open andclose over the cassette mounting section 5.

The cassette mounting section 5 is provided on the rear side of thedisplay unit 3. A tape cassette 30 is detachably mounted in the cassettemounting section 5. In the following description, a tape cassette 30that is mounted in the cassette mounting section 5 will be called the“mounted cassette.” The tape cassette 30 is provided with a cassettecase 31. The cassette case 31 accommodates the tape 40, and an inkribbon (not illustrated). The tape 40 is configured of a long stripcomprising layers arranged in the order of a base material, an adhesivelayer, and a release paper. The surface of the base material on the sideopposite the release paper is the printing surface. Objects are printedon the printing surface with the ink ribbon.

The tape cassette 30 has an identification part 32 provided on the frontsurface of the cassette case 31. The identification part 32 isconfigured of a combination of recesses formed in the surface thereof.The recesses form a pattern that varies according to the color of theink ribbon (i.e., the color of the objects printed on the tape 40;hereinafter called the “printing color”) and attributes of the tape 40(hereinafter called the “tape attributes”) accommodated in the cassettecase 31. Various tape attributes are used in the present embodiment andinclude the width dimension of the tape 40 (hereinafter called the “tapewidth”), the color of the tape 40, and whether the tape 40 is anon-clear tape (a normal tape) having an opaque base material or a cleartape having a transparent or translucent base material. In the followingdescription, information specifying the printing color and tapeattributes will be called the “cassette information.” The identificationpart 32 specifies the cassette information.

A ribbon take-up shaft 6, a tape drive shaft 7, and a thermal head 9(see FIG. 3) are provided in the cassette mounting section 5. Aconveying motor 16 provided in the tape printer 10 (see FIG. 3) drivesthe ribbon take-up shaft 6 to take up used ink ribbon and to conveyunused ink ribbon. The conveying motor 16 also drives the tape driveshaft 7 to convey the tape 40. The thermal head 9 generates heat inorder to print objects on the tape 40 using the ink ribbon. A cuttingunit 8 is disposed on the left side of the tape drive shaft 7. A cuttingmotor 17 provided in the tape printer 10 (see FIG. 3) drives the cuttingunit 8 to cut off the portion of the tape 40 on which objects have beenprinted, thereby creating a label.

Next, labels will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. Labelsin the present embodiment are categorized as base labels 41 and overlaylabels 42. A composite label 49 is created by affixing overlay labels 42to the printing surface of a base label 41. Thus, the base label 41serves as the base, or bottom, of the composite label 49. Hereinafter,the tape 40 used for creating the base label 41 will be called the “basetape.” In other words, the base label 41 is created by cutting the basetape after objects have been printed thereon. The tape 40 used forcreating the overlay label 42 will be called the “overlay tape.” Inother words, the overlay labels 42 are created by cutting the overlaytape after objects have been printed thereon. The tape 40 is categorizedas base tape and overlay tape according to the tape attributes. In thepresent embodiment, a non-clear tape is classified as the base tape,while a clear tape is classified as the overlay tape. Note that theclear tape may also be classified as base tape.

The example in FIG. 2A illustrates a white base label 41 on which isprinted a text T1 in black which is written in English and Chinese, aclear overlay label 42 on which is printed a text T2 in blue which iswritten in Japanese, and two clear overlay labels 42 on which redgraphics G1 and G2 are printed. FIG. 2B illustrates the composite label49 created when the three overlay labels 42 are affixed to the baselabel 41. For convenience, all objects are rendered in black in FIGS. 2Aand 2B and all labels are rendered in white. This depiction is alsofollowed in FIGS. 6, 10, 11, 13, and 14.

Since the overlay labels 42 are transparent, the user can see theprinting surface of the base label 41 through the overlay labels 42 whenviewing the finished composite label 49. In this way, the printingsystem 1 can use a tape printer 10 having a simple configuration capableof printing only one color in each print to create a composite label 49that appears to have objects in a plurality of colors (black, blue, andred in the example of FIGS. 2A and 2B) printed on a single label (i.e.,a multicolored label).

Next, the electrical configuration of the tape printer 10 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 3. The tape printer 10 according to thepresent embodiment is provided with a central processing unit (CPU) 11.The CPU 11 functions as a processor for controlling the tape printer 10.In addition to the input unit 2, display unit 3, thermal head 9,conveying motor 16, and cutting motor 17 described above, the CPU 11 iselectrically connected to a flash memory 12, a read only memory (ROM)13, a random access memory (RAM) 14, a communication unit 15, and areading device 18. The flash memory 12 stores programs executed by theCPU 11 and the like. The ROM 13 stores various parameters that the CPU11 requires when executing the various programs. The RAM 14 storesvarious temporary data, such as print data received from the editingdevice 20. The communication unit 15 is a controller for communicatingwith the editing device 20 via the network 100. The reading device 18 isa sensor for reading cassette information from the identification part32.

Next, the electrical configuration of the editing device 20 will bedescribed. The editing device 20 is provided with a CPU 21. The CPU 21functions as a processor for controlling the editing device 20. The CPU21 is electrically connected to a flash memory 22, a ROM 23, a RAM 24, acommunication unit 25, an input unit 26, a display unit 27, and a drivedevice 28. The flash memory 22 stores programs executed by the CPU 21,label data, and the like. The RAM 24 stores various temporary data. TheROM 23 stores various types of information that the CPU 21 needs whenexecuting the various programs. The communication unit 25 is acontroller for communicating with the tape printer 10 via the network100. The input unit 26 includes a mouse, a keyboard, and the like. Theuser operates the input unit 26 to input various information into theediting device 20. The display unit 27 is a liquid crystal displaycapable of displaying color images. The display unit 27 displays variousinformation including images based on edited print data. The drivedevice 28 can read information stored on a storage medium 28A. Thestorage medium 28A is a semiconductor memory, an optical disc, or thelike. When the drive device 28 reads a main program stored on thestorage medium 28A, the CPU 21 can store the main program in the flashmemory 22.

Next, a main process executed by the CPU 21 of the editing device 20will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 14. The CPU 21starts the main process by executing a main program when a command tostart the main process is inputted through the input unit 26. As asuitable example, the following description will cover the case ofcreating the composite label 49 illustrated in FIG. 2B. In the mainprocess, the CPU 21 controls the editing of print data and thedisplaying of images based on edited print data. Also in the mainprocess, the CPU 21 controls printing based on the edited print data andthe displaying of images based on print control.

In S1 at the beginning of the main process in FIG. 4, the CPU 21performs a process to acquire mounted cassette information (mountedcassette information acquiring process). In the mounted cassetteinformation acquiring process, the CPU 21 transmits a request to thetape printer 10 via the network 100, requesting cassette information onthe mounted cassette (hereinafter called the “mounted cassetteinformation”). When the tape printer 10 receives the request from theediting device 20, the CPU 11 reads the mounted cassette informationfrom the identification part 32 (see FIG. 1) with the reading device 18(see FIG. 3). The CPU 11 then transmits this mounted cassetteinformation to the editing device 20 via the network 100. In this way,the CPU 21 of the editing device 20 acquires the mounted cassetteinformation from the tape printer 10. Note that, when capable ofcommunicating with a plurality of tape printers 10, the CPU 21 acquiresmounted cassette information from each tape printer 10. If the CPU 21cannot communicate with a tape printer 10 or if a tape cassette 30 isnot mounted in the cassette mounting section 5 of the tape printer 10,the CPU 21 does not acquire mounted cassette information from the tapeprinter 10. If mounted cassette information is acquired, the CPU 21stores the information in the RAM 24.

In S12 the CPU 21 displays a full editing screen 271 (see FIG. 5) on thedisplay unit 27. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the full editing screen 271has sections 61, 62, and 63. Displayed within the section 61 area textsize indicator 64, a print mode indicator 65, a textbox (notillustrated), a color indicator (not illustrated), a standard cassetteinformation indicator 68, and the like that are operated to edit printdata. The size of the text is displayed in the text size indicator 64.The user can modify this text size by operating the text size indicator64 using the input unit 26. A print mode described later is displayed inthe print mode indicator 65. The user can select a print mode suited tothe user's purpose by operating the print mode indicator 65 using theinput unit 26. The user can add text, graphics, or other objects throughoperations in the textbox and the like using the input unit 26. The usercan also change the printing color for an object by operating the colorindicator using the input unit 26.

Standard cassette information is displayed in the standard cassetteinformation indicator 68. Standard cassette information is cassetteinformation for a standard cassette. When mounted cassette informationfor a single mounted cassette was acquired in the mounted cassetteinformation acquiring process of S11, the standard cassette denotes thetape cassette 30 corresponding to the acquired mounted cassetteinformation (i.e., the mounted cassette). When mounted cassetteinformation for a plurality of mounted cassettes was acquired in themounted cassette information acquiring process of S11, the standardcassette denotes a default tape cassette 30. The default tape cassette30 is a cassette provided with a black ink ribbon and a white non-cleartape having a tape width of 24 mm. If no mounted cassette informationwas acquired in the mounted cassette information acquiring process ofS11, the standard cassette information represents the default tapecassette 30. In the example of FIG. 5, the information “24 mmBLACK/WHITE” is displayed in the standard cassette information indicator68. Here, “24 mm” denotes the tape width, “BLACK” denotes the printingcolor, and “WHITE” denotes a white tape 40 (i.e., non-clear tape). Theuser can change the standard cassette by operating the standard cassetteinformation indicator 68 with the input unit 26.

A composite label image 66 undergoing edit is displayed in the section62. The composite label image 66 is a composite preview corresponding tothe composite label 49 being created. When editing is initiated, acomposite label image 66 corresponding to the standard cassette (i.e., adefault composite label image 66) is displayed in section 62. Thedefault composite label image 66 includes only a base label image 661.The base label image 661 depicts the outer shape of the base label witha solid line.

When editing operations are performed on the print data, the display ofthe composite label image 66 is modified to reflect the editing changes.For example, if an object is added, an image of the object is added tothe composite label image 66. The object image renders the added objectin the color specified by the color indicator. FIG. 5 illustrates a casein which the black text T1 was added as an object to be printed on thebase tape (hereinafter called a “base object”). Here, the text T1 willbe called an object image 662. By manipulating object images with theinput unit 26, the user can move and delete objects.

A print button 67 and the like are displayed in the section 63 forinitiating a printing operation. By selecting the print button 67, theuser can execute a printing operation on the tape printer 10.

In S13 of FIG. 4, the CPU 21 performs a process to receive editingoperations (editing operations receiving process). Here, the user canperform operations in the full editing screen 271 using the input unit26 to edit the print data. Specifically, as described above, the usercan edit print data by: selecting a print mode; adding and deletingobjects; and changing the shapes, positions, sizes, and printing colorsof objects. The print modes include a shortest length mode, and a fewestprints mode. While these will be described later in greater detail, theshortest length mode controls the tape printer 10 to create an overlaylabel 42 for each object, while the fewest prints mode controls the tapeprinter 10 to create an overlay label 42 for all objects having the sameprinting color. In the example of FIG. 5, the shortest length mode isset as the print mode at the start of the editing process. In theediting operations receiving process of S13, the CPU 21 receives editingoperations for print data through the input unit 26. The CPU 21 storesvarious types of information corresponding to the editing operationsreceived for print data in the RAM 24. This information includesinformation specifying the print mode, and information related toobjects.

In S14 the CPU 21 reflects the changes made to the print data in thefull editing screen 271. For example, when the black text T1 is added asa base object as described above, the CPU 21 adds the object image 662to the composite label image 66, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

In S15 the CPU 21 determines whether an overlay object exists on thebasis of the information that was stored in the RAM 24 in the editingoperations receiving process of S13. An overlay object is any objectprinted on overlay tape and has a printing color that differs from theprinting color of the base object. In the present embodiment, when thestandard cassette has non-clear tape as a tape attribute, the CPU 21determines that any object with a printing color different from theprinting color of the standard cassette is an overlay object. If thestandard cassette has clear tape as a tape attribute, the CPU 21determines that any object having the same printing color as theprinting color of the standard cassette is an overlay object. When thestandard cassette has non-clear tape as the tape attribute and theprinting color of the standard cassette is black as in the example ofFIG. 5, the CPU 21 determines that there are no overlay objects if thereare no objects with a printing color other than black (S15: NO). In thiscase, the CPU 21 returns to S13.

When the blue text T2 is added to the print data in the stateillustrated in FIG. 5, for example, in S14 an object image 663 is addedto the composite label image 66, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Since thestandard cassette has the tape attribute non-clear tape and the printingcolor of the added text (blue) differs from the printing color of thestandard cassette (black), the CPU 21 determines in S15 of FIG. 4 thatan overlay object exists (S15: YES). In this case, in S16 the CPU 21creates a base layer and a normal layer. In S16 the CPU 21 categorizesthe layer corresponding to the base object as the base layer and thelayer corresponding to the overlay object as the normal layer, andstores these layers in the RAM 24. In other words, the CPU 21 assignsthe objects to one of the base tape (base layer) and overlay tape(normal layer).

In S17 the CPU 21 displays a layer editing screen 272 (see FIG. 6) onthe display unit 27 based on the base layer and normal layers created inS16. At this time, the layer editing screen 272 is superimposed on thefull editing screen 271. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the layer editingscreen 272 is provided with a layer screen for each layer. In thisexample, the blue text T2 was added to the display illustrated in FIG.5. Accordingly, layer screens 72 and 73 are provided in the layerediting screen 272. The layer screen 72 corresponds to the base layer,and the layer screen 73 to a normal layer 1. In the present embodiment,the layer screen that corresponds to the base label 41 (the base layer)is displayed in the topmost position among the plurality of layerscreens. Layer screens corresponding to overlay labels 42 (normallayers) are displayed in descending order below the layer screencorresponding to the base label 41 according to the order that theoverlay labels 42 are affixed to the base label 41. In this way, theediting device 20 can reduce the possibility that the user will mistakethe order in which overlay labels 42 are affixed to the base label 41.

A label display area 81 is provided in the left portion of each of thelayer screens 72 and 73. A label image corresponding to each layer isdisplayed in the corresponding label display area 81. The label image isa preview of the layer being created and indicates the label beingedited for the corresponding layer. In the example of FIG. 6, a labelimage 83 is displayed in the label display area 81 of the layer screen72, and a label image 84 is displayed in the label display area 81 ofthe layer screen 73. A base label border 89 is displayed in the labeldisplay area 81 of the layer screen 73 for a normal layer. The baselabel border 89 is a dashed line that indicates the outer shape of thebase label 41. The position of the label image relative to the baselabel border 89 corresponds to the position at which the overlay label42 will be affixed to the base label 41. Hence, the user can readilycomprehend the position at which the overlay label 42 is affixed to thebase label 41 on the basis of the position of the label image relativeto the base label border 89.

An operating area 82 is provided in the right portion of each of thelayer screens 72 and 73. Displayed in the operating area 82 are a layername indicator 91, a label length indicator 92, a selected cassetteinformation indicator 93, an orientation indicator 94, a marginindicator 95, a Delete button 96, and the like that the user can operateto edit the print data. The layer name (base layer, normal layer 1,etc.) is displayed in each layer name indicator 91. Thus, by checkingthe layer name indicator 91, the user can distinguish the base layerfrom the normal layers. The label length is displayed in the labellength indicator 92. Label length indicates the longitudinal dimensionof the label. By operating the label length indicator 92 using the inputunit 26, the user can adjust the label length.

The selected cassette is displayed in each selected cassette informationindicator 93. The selected cassette is the tape cassette 30 that theuser selects from a plurality of candidate tape cassettes 30 byoperating the selected cassette information indicator 93. The selectedcassette information is cassette information corresponding to theselected cassette. The selected cassette is the tape cassette 30 thatwill be used for printing. Hence, the user can select a tape cassette 30to be used in printing by operating the selected cassette informationindicator 93 using the input unit 26. In the example of FIG. 6, “24 mmBLACK/WHITE” is displayed in the selected cassette information indicator93 of the layer screen 72, and “12 mm BLUE/CLEAR” is displayed in theselected cassette information indicator 93 of the layer screen 73. Here,“24 mm” and “12 mm” denote the tape widths; “BLACK” and “BLUE” denotethe printing colors; “WHITE” denotes a white tape 40 (i.e., a non-cleartape); and “CLEAR” denotes a clear tape.

Cassette information for the plurality of candidate tape cassettes 30 ispre-stored in the flash memory 22. Tape cassettes 30 with clear tape areclassified as candidate tape cassettes 30 for normal layers. Tapecassettes 30 with non-clear tape are classified as candidate tapecassettes 30 for the base layer. When the cassette information for theplurality of candidate tape cassettes 30 includes cassette informationidentical to the mounted cassette information acquired in S11, thecassette information identical to the mounted cassette informationacquired in S11 is displayed in the selected cassette informationindicator 93 as the selected cassette information at the beginning ofthe editing process. In this way, the editing device 20 eliminates theuser's need to confirm the mounted cassette.

An orientation is displayed in the orientation indicator 94. Orientationwill be described later. The length of margins provided on bothlongitudinal (the left-right direction in FIGS. 2A and 2B) ends of thetape 40 is displayed in the margin indicator 95. The user can modify themargin length by operating the margin indicator 95 using the input unit26. The Delete button 96 is provided in the upper-right corner of theoperating area 82. By selecting the Delete button 96 with the input unit26, the user can delete the layer corresponding to the selected Deletebutton 96.

In S18 of FIG. 4, the CPU 21 executes a composite label editing process.In S19 the CPU 21 performs a printing process. The CPU 21 subsequentlyends the main process.

Next, the composite label editing process will be described withreference to FIGS. 7 through 11. In S21 at the beginning of the processin FIG. 7, the CPU 21 performs a process to receive editing operations(editing operations receiving process). Here, in addition to the fullediting screen 271, the user can perform operations in the layer editingscreen 272 using the input unit 26 to edit print data. Specifically, inaddition to the editing operations described in S13, the user canperform the editing operations on print data, such as changing theselected cassette and deleting layers, as described above. In theediting operations receiving process of S21, the CPU 21 receives editingoperations for print data through the input unit 26. On the basis of theoperations received in S21 for editing the print data, the CPU 21 storesvarious types of information in the RAM 24. This information includesinformation specifying the print mode, information related to objects,and information on the selected cassette.

In S22 the CPU 21 determines whether an editing operation has beenperformed on print data in the full editing screen 271 according tooperations received in the editing operations receiving process of S21.When an editing operation has been performed on print data in the fullediting screen 271 (S22: YES), the CPU 21 advances to S31 and performs aprocess corresponding to the editing operation. However, if an editingoperation has been performed on print data in the layer editing screen272 and not on print data in the full editing screen 271 (S22: NO), theCPU 21 advances to S51 in FIG. 8 and performs a process corresponding tothe editing operation in the layer editing screen 272.

First, the process will be described for a case in which an operationhas been performed in the full editing screen 271 to edit print data. InS31 the CPU 21 determines whether an overlay object has been added onthe basis of the information stored in the RAM 24 in S21. When anoverlay object has been added (S31: YES), in S32 the CPU 21 creates anormal layer.

Subsequently, in S61 of FIG. 9 the CPU 21 references the RAM 24 todetermine whether the print mode is the shortest length mode. If theprint mode is the shortest length mode (S61: YES), in S62 the CPU 21creates a separate layer for each overlay object. By using the shortestlength mode, the editing device 20 consumes less overlay tape than whenusing the fewest prints mode. Subsequently, the CPU 21 advances to S64.

When the print mode is the fewest prints mode and not the shortestlength mode (S61: NO), in S63 the CPU 21 creates layers such that alloverlay objects having the same printing color are in the same layer. Inthis way, the editing device 20 can create one overlay label 42 for allobjects of each printing color. Accordingly, the editing device 20 canprint a plurality of overlay objects in a single print, provided thatthe objects have the same printing color, thereby printing faster andwith fewer prints than when using the shortest length mode.Subsequently, the CPU 21 advances to S64. Each time the user adds anobject having a printing color that differs from the printing colors ofall previously added objects (hereinafter called “objects of a newprinting color”), the CPU 21 creates a new layer for the objects of thenew printing color.

In S64 that CPU 21 performs a process to determine the orientation(orientation determining process). In this description, “orientation”denotes the direction in which the tape 40 is arranged relative to thedisplayed object image. Orientations include a parallel orientation andan orthogonal orientation. The parallel orientation is an orientation inwhich the left-right direction of the object image displayed on thedisplay unit 27 is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the tape40. The orthogonal orientation is an orientation in which the left-rightdirection of the object image displayed on the display unit 27 isaligned with the width direction of the tape 40.

In the orientation determining process of S64, the CPU 21 determineswhether the overlay object can be printed within a printing area on theoverlay tape using the selected cassette when the orientation is theparallel orientation and when the orientation is the orthogonalorientation. If the overlay object can be printed within the printingarea of the overlay tape, the CPU 21 determines whether the createdoverlay label 42 will run off the base label 41 when affixed thereto. Inthe following description, the expression “printing acceptable” will beused for cases in which the overlay object can be printed within theprinting area on the overlay tape and when the overlay label 42 will notextend off the base label 41 when the overlay label 42 is created andaffixed to the base label 41. If printing is not acceptable, i.e., ifthe overlay object cannot be printed within the printing area on theoverlay tape, or if the overlay object can be printed within theprinting area but the overlay label 42 will extend off the base label 41when the overlay label 42 is created and affixed to the base label 41,the term “printing unacceptable” will be used for such cases. Whenprinting is acceptable, the CPU 21 calculates the shortest length in thelongitudinal direction of the overlay label 42. In other words, whenprinting is acceptable, the CPU 21 calculates the length of the overlaytape required for printing the overlay object in the printing area ofthe overlay tape. At this time, the CPU 21 also accounts for the size ofthe margins displayed in the margin indicator 95.

In S65 the CPU 21 determines whether printing is unacceptable with theselected cassette in both the parallel and orthogonal orientationsaccording to the determination results in S64. If printing isunacceptable in both orientations (S65: YES), in S66 the CPU 21 storesthe layer subjected to the determination in S64 in the RAM 24 as awarning-targeted layer. In S71 the CPU 21 reflects the modification tothe print data in the editing screen. Specifically, the CPU 21 adds anobject image representing the added overlay object to the compositelabel image 66. The CPU 21 also displays a layer screen corresponding tothe normal layer created in S32. Next, the CPU 21 issues a warning bydisplaying a warning icon 99 (see FIG. 10) in the layer screen inassociation with the warning-targeted layer stored in the RAM 24.Subsequently, the CPU 21 returns to the main process in FIG. 4.

In this example, a red graphic is added to the left portion of thecomposite label image 66 as an overlay object. When this graphic isadded, in S71 the CPU 21 adds an object image 664 to the composite labelimage 66, as illustrated in FIG. 10. The CPU 21 also displays a layerscreen 74 for a normal layer 2 and displays a label image 85 in thelabel display area 81 of the layer screen 74. FIG. 10 illustrates a casein which the overlay label 42 for the normal layer 2 will run off thebase label 41 when affixed thereto, regardless of whether the overlaylabel 42 is in the parallel orientation or the orthogonal orientation.In other words, FIG. 10 illustrates a case in which the normal layer 2is a warning-targeted layer. In this case, the warning icon 99 isdisplayed on the layer screen 74 in association with normal layer 2. Byindicating a warning-targeted layer using the warning icon 99, theediting device 20 can notify the user that the selected cassettecorresponding to the warning-targeted layer (“36 mm RED/CLEAR” in FIG.10) must be changed to a tape cassette 30 with which printing isacceptable. In response, the user operates the selected cassetteinformation indicator 93 of the layer screen 74 through the input unit26 to change the selected cassette from “36 mm RED/CLEAR” to “24 mmRED/CLEAR,” for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, when printing is acceptable using the selectedcassette for at least one of the parallel orientation and orthogonalorientation (S65: NO), in S67 the CPU 21 determines whether printing isacceptable using the selected cassette in both the parallel andorthogonal orientations according to the determination results in theorientation determining process of S64. If printing with the selectedcassette is only acceptable using one of the parallel orientation andorthogonal orientation (S67: NO), in S68 the CPU 21 stores theorientation in which printing is acceptable and the shortest length ofthe overlay tape by which printing is acceptable in the RAM 24.Subsequently, in S71 the CPU 21 reflects the changes to the print datain the editing screen. Specifically, the CPU 21 adds an object imagerepresenting the added object to the composite label image 66. Next, theCPU 21 displays a layer screen corresponding to the normal layer createdin S32. Here, the CPU 21 sets the orientation indicator 94 (see FIG. 10)for the layer that was the subject of the determination in theorientation determining process of S64 according to the orientationstored in the RAM 24. The CPU 21 also sets the label length indicator 92for the layer subject to the determination in S64 (see FIG. 10)according to the value stored in the RAM 24 indicating the shortestlength of the overlay tape by which printing is acceptable.

In this example, a red graphic is also added to the right portion of thecomposite label image 66 as an overlay object. When this graphic isadded, in S71 the CPU 21 adds an object image 665 to the composite labelimage 66, as illustrated in FIG. 10. When the print mode is the shortestlength mode, the CPU 21 displays a layer screen 75 corresponding to anormal layer 3 and displays a label image 86 in the label display area81 of the layer screen 75 and displays a label image 86 in the labeldisplay area 81 of the layer screen 75. FIG. 10 illustrates a case inwhich the selected cassette “24 mm RED/CLEAR” corresponding to thenormal layer 3 is acceptable to print in the parallel orientation. Inthis case, the CPU 21 performs a display indicating that the parallelorientation has been set in the orientation indicator 94 for the normallayer 3. The CPU 21 also displays “20 mm” in the label length indicator92 for the normal layer 3 as the label length.

When printing is acceptable using the selected cassette in both theparallel and the orthogonal orientations (S67: YES), in S69 the CPU 21performs a process to determine the quantity of tape consumption (tapeconsumption amount determining process). In the tape consumption amountdetermining process, the CPU 21 compares the length of overlay tape thatwill be consumed using the selected cassette (i.e., the consumptionamount) between cases in which the orientation is the parallelorientation and in which the orientation is the orthogonal orientation.The consumption amount denotes the shortest length of the overlay tapecalculated in S64 by which printing is acceptable.

In S70 the CPU 21 stores the orientation determined in the tapeconsumption amount determining process of S69 to consume the leastamount of overlay tape and the shortest length of overlay tape neededfor printing to be acceptable in the RAM 24. In S71 the CPU 21 reflectsthe changes made to the print data in the editing screen. Specifically,the CPU 21 displays the added objects as described above (adds an objectimage and a layer screen). The CPU 21 also reflects the orientationstored in the RAM 24 in the orientation indicator 94 (see FIG. 10)corresponding to the layer that was subject to the determination in S64,and displays the shortest length of the overlay tape at which printingbecomes acceptable in the label length indicator 92.

If the CPU 21 determines in S31 of FIG. 7 that an overlay object has notbeen added (S31: NO), in S33 the CPU 21 determines whether the printmode has been changed on the basis of the information that was stored inthe RAM 24 in the editing operations receiving process of S21. If theprint mode has been changed (S33: YES), in S34 the CPU 21 displays aconfirmation screen 273 (see FIG. 11) on the display unit 27 over thefull editing screen 271 and layer editing screen 272. As illustrated inFIG. 11, the confirmation screen 273 indicates the content of the layerediting screen 272 when the print mode was changed. In this example, theprint mode has been changed from the shortest length mode in FIG. 10 tothe fewest prints mode. Accordingly, the confirmation screen 273indicates the content of the layer editing screen 272 after integratingnormal layer 2 and normal layer 3 of FIG. 10. An OK button 78 and aCANCEL button 79 are provided in the bottom of the confirmation screen273. The user can confirm the change to the print mode by selecting theOK button 78 using the input unit 26 or can cancel the change byselecting the CANCEL button 79 using the input unit 26.

In S35 of FIG. 7, the CPU 21 determines whether the change to the printmode has been confirmed according to whether the OK button 78 or theCANCEL button 79 has been selected. When the user selected the CANCELbutton 79 using the input unit 26 (S35: NO), the CPU 21 cancels thechange made to the printing mode. In this case, neither the correlationsbetween the overlay objects and the normal layers nor the tapeorientations are changed. Accordingly, the CPU 21 advances to S71 ofFIG. 9 and returns the editing screen to its state prior to the printmode being changed.

On the other hand, if the user selected the OK button 78 using the inputunit 26 (S35: YES), the CPU 21 confirms the change made to the printmode. When the print mode is changed, there may also be changes tocorrespondences between overlay objects and normal layers (one normallayer for each overlay object or one normal layer for each set ofoverlay objects having the same printing color) and to the orientations(parallel orientation or orthogonal orientation) for each normal layer.Accordingly, the CPU 21 advances to S61 of FIG. 9 and performs theprocess described above from S61 for each of the normal layers. In S71the CPU 21 updates the print mode indicator 65, updates, according tochanges in orientation, the label images, the label length indicators92, the orientation indicators 94, and the like.

On the other hand, if the CPU 21 determines in S33 that the print modehas not been changed (S33: NO), in S36 the CPU 21 determines whether theprinting color of an overlay object has been changed on the basis of theinformation that was stored in the RAM 24 in the editing operationsreceiving process of S21. If the printing color of an overlay object hasbeen changed (S36: YES), there may also be changes to correspondencesbetween overlay objects and normal layers (layers being integrated orseparated) and to orientations. Accordingly, the CPU 21 advances to S61of FIG. 9 and repeats the process described above from S61. In S71 theCPU 21 then modifies the color of the object images, integrates orseparates layer screens in conformance with the integration orseparation of their layers, changes the colors of the label images,updates the label length indicators 92, updates the orientationindicators 94, and the like.

However, if there have been no changes made to the printing colors ofoverlay objects (S36: NO), in S37 the CPU 21 determines whether the sizeor position of an overlay object has been changed on the basis of theinformation that was stored in the RAM 24 in the editing operationsreceiving process of S21. When the size or position of an overlay objecthas been changed (S37: YES), there will be no changes to correspondencesbetween overlay objects and normal layers, but there is a chance thatthe orientation will change. Accordingly, the CPU 21 advances to S64 inFIG. 9 and performs the process described above from S64. In S71 the CPU21 modifies the positions or sizes of the object images, modifies thelabel images, updates the label length indicators 92, updates theorientation indicators 94, and the like.

However, if there have been no changes to the sizes and positions ofoverlay objects (S37: NO), in S38 the CPU 21 determines whether anoverlay object has been deleted on the basis of the information that wasstored in the RAM 24 in the editing operations receiving process of S21.When an overlay object has been deleted (S38: YES), in S39 the CPU 21determines whether other overlay objects still exist in the normal layerfrom which the overlay object has been deleted. If there remains anotheroverlay object in the normal layer from which the overlay object hasbeen deleted (S39: YES), in S71 of FIG. 9 the CPU 21 deletes the objectimage corresponding to the deleted overlay object from the full editingscreen 271 and modifies the label image in the normal layer from whichthe overlay object has been deleted.

However, if no overlay object remains in the normal layer from which theoverlay object has been deleted (S39: NO), in S40 the CPU 21 deletes thenormal layer having no overlay objects (i.e., the normal layer whoseoverlay object was determined in S38 to have been deleted) from the RAM24. In S71 of FIG. 9, the CPU 21 then deletes the object image for thecorresponding deleted overlay object from the full editing screen 271and deletes the layer screen for the deleted normal layer from the layerediting screen 272.

However, if the CPU 21 determines in S38 that no overlay objects havebeen deleted (S38: NO), in S41 the CPU 21 performs a processcorresponding to the information that was stored in the RAM 24 in theediting operations receiving process of S21. Subsequently, the CPU 21advances to S71.

Next, a description will be given of processes performed when operationsto edit print data were executed in the layer editing screen 272. If anediting operation has been performed on print data in the layer editingscreen 272 (S21) and not on print data in the full editing screen 271(S22: NO), in S51 of FIG. 8, the CPU 21 determines whether a selectedcassette has been changed. If a selected cassette has been changed (S51:YES), in S52 the CPU 21 determines whether the modified selectedcassette is the selected cassette for the base layer. If the modifiedselected cassette is the selected cassette for a normal layer and notfor the base layer (S52: NO), the CPU 21 advances to S61 of FIG. 9.However, if the modified cassette is the selected cassette for the baselayer (S52: YES), in S53 the CPU 21 stores a base label border 89 (seeFIG. 6) corresponding to the size of the tape 40 (tape width and labellength) provided in the new selected cassette in the RAM 24.Subsequently, the CPU 21 advances to S61 in FIG. 9.

Here, the CPU 21 must advance to S61 of FIG. 9 to perform the processdescribed above from S61 because the correlations between overlayobjects and normal layers and the tape orientations may change when theselected cassette is changed. In S71 of FIG. 9, the CPU 21 modifies thebase label borders 89 or the label images in the layer editing screen272, updates the label length indicators 92, updates the orientationindicators 94, and the like.

However, if the CPU 21 determines in S51 of FIG. 8 that a selectedcassette has not been changed (S51: NO), in S54 the CPU 21 determineswhether a normal layer has been deleted on the basis of the informationthat was stored in the RAM 24 in the editing operations receivingprocess of S21. If a normal layer has been deleted (S54: YES), in S55the CPU 21 deletes all overlay objects corresponding to the deletednormal layer from the RAM 24. In this case, neither correlations betweenoverlay objects and normal layers nor orientations will have changed.Therefore, the CPU 21 advances to S71 of FIG. 9. In S71 the CPU 21deletes the object images representing the deleted overlay objects fromthe full editing screen 271, and deletes the layer screen correspondingto the deleted layer from the layer editing screen 272.

On the other hand, if a normal layer has not been deleted (S4: NO), inS56 the CPU 21 performs a process based on the information that wasstored in the RAM 24 in the editing operations receiving process of S21,and subsequently advances to S71 in FIG. 9.

Next, the printing process will be described with reference to FIG. 12.The user selects the print button 67 (see FIG. 10) using the input unit26 in order to input a print command into the editing device 20 forexecuting a printing operation on the tape printer 10. In S81 at thebeginning of the printing process, the CPU 21 acquires the print commandinputted via the input unit 26. In S82 the CPU 21 displays a printpreview 274 (see FIG. 13) on the display unit 27.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the print preview 274 has a left section 51arranged in the left portion of the print preview 274, and a rightsection 52 arranged in the right portion of the print preview 274. Thecomposite label image 66 is displayed in the left section 51. The labelimages 83, 84, 85, and 86 for each corresponding layer are displayed oneafter another in the right section 52. A base label border 89 isdisplayed for each of the label images 84, 85, and 86 corresponding tothe normal layers. In the present embodiment, the label image 83corresponding to the base label 41 (the base layer) is displayed at thetop of the label images 83, 84, 85, and 86. The label images 84, 85, and86 corresponding to the overlay labels 42 (the normal layers) aredisplayed beneath the label image 83 for the base label 41 in the orderthat the overlay labels 42 will be affixed to the base label 41. In thepresent embodiment, label images corresponding to layers already printedare displayed so as to be distinguishable from label images forunprinted layers. Specifically, shading 98 is displayed in the labelimage 84 when the layer corresponding to the label image 84 has beenprinted, as illustrated in FIG. 14.

In S83 of FIG. 12, the CPU 21 determines whether there remain anyunprinted layers. When there remains a label image without the shading98, as in the example of FIG. 14, the CPU 21 determines that anunprinted layer exists (S83: YES). In S84 the CPU 21 performs a processto acquire mounted cassette information (mounted cassette informationacquiring process). In this process, the CPU 21 acquires mountedcassette information in the same manner described in S11 of FIG. 4. Ifthe CPU 21 can communicate with a plurality of tape printers 10 at thistime, the CPU 21 acquires mounted cassette information from each tapeprinter 10. The CPU 21 stores the mounted cassette information in theRAM 24 in association with the corresponding tape printer 10.

In S85 the CPU 21 selects one of the unprinted layers as a target layerto be printed and determines for the target layer whether one of themounted cassettes respectively corresponding to the mounted cassetteinformation acquired in S84 matches the selected cassette correspondingto the selected cassette information that was selected for the targetlayer in S13 of FIG. 4 or S21 of FIG. 7. If none of the mountedcassettes is the same as the selected cassette for the target layer(S85: NO), in S86 the CPU 21 displays a cassette error message (notillustrated) on the display unit 27. For example, the CPU 21 displaysthe cassette error message “Please mount a 12-mm blue/clear tapecassette,” prompting the user to mount a tape cassette 30 equivalent tothe selected cassette in the cassette mounting section 5. Subsequently,the CPU 21 returns to S84.

When amounted cassette equivalent to the selected cassette exists (S85:YES), in S87 the CPU 21 performs a print control process for the targetlayer. In the print control process, the CPU 21 transmits print data forprinting the target objects corresponding to the target layer to thetape printer 10 via the network 100. In other words, the CPU 21transmits print data for the label image corresponding to the targetlayer displayed on the display unit 27 to the tape printer 10 via thenetwork 100. When the tape printer 10 receives print data from theediting device 20, the CPU 11 performs a printing operation based on theprint data. Through this process, the tape printer 10 can create a labelfor the target layer.

In S88 the CPU 21 updates the print preview 274. Specifically, the CPU21 updates the print preview 274 so as to display additional shading 98in the label image corresponding to the target layer. At this time, theCPU 21 displays shading 98 in all label images corresponding to thelayers that have been printed in S87 (the layers for which print datahave been outputted). For example, if the layer corresponding to thelabel image 84 was printed in S87, in S88 the CPU 21 displays shading 98over the label image 84 (see FIG. 14). In this way, the user can easilyrecognize what layers have not been printed. Subsequently, the CPU 21returns to S83.

In this way, the CPU 21 performs process of S84 through S88 for eachunprinted layer. Through this process, the tape printer 10 can create alabel for each layer. Specifically, the tape printer 10 can create anoverlay label for each object when the print mode is the shortest lengthmode, and can create an overlay label for each set of objects having thesame printing color when the print mode is the fewest prints mode. Notethat the tape printer 10 can create a single base label regardless ofwhether the print mode is the shortest length mode or the fewest printsmode.

Once shading 98 has been displayed over the label images of all layersin the print preview 274 updated in S88, the CPU 21 determines there areno unprinted layers remaining (S83: NO). In this case, the CPU 21returns to the main process of FIG. 4.

As described above, the user can select one of the shortest length modeand fewest prints mode as the print mode. By selecting the shortestlength mode, the user can create an overlay label 42 for each object,thereby reducing the quantity of overlay tape consumed for printing.When selecting the fewest prints mode, the user can create an overlaylabel 42 for each set of objects having the same printing color. In thisway, if a plurality of objects has the same printing color, all objectswith the same printing color can be printed at one time. Accordingly,when the fewest prints mode has been selected, printing can be performedquickly, as fewer prints are required than in the shortest length mode.The user can switch modes according to the intended purpose.

Objects are assigned to one of the base layer (base tape) and normallayer (overlay tape) according to the tape attributes and printing coloracquired in S11 for the mounted cassette, and the printing coloracquired in S13 or S21. Hence, the editing device 20 eliminates theuser's need to assign objects to one of the base tape and overlay tape.

Layer screens are displayed on the display unit 27. Consequently, theuser can be made aware of the sizes and shapes of the overlay labels 42as print data is being edited on the editing device 20.

When the fewest prints mode has been set, a plurality of layerscorresponding to objects of the same printing color are combined, and asingle layer screen corresponding to the combined layers is displayed onthe display unit 27. In this way, the editing device 20 eliminates theuser's need to combine layer screens.

When the shortest length mode has been set, layers are separated byobject, and a layer screen corresponding to each of the separated layersis displayed on the display unit 27. In this way, the editing device 20can eliminate the user's need to separate layer screens.

When an object is deleted from a layer having a single object, the layerwhose object was deleted is also deleted, and the layer screencorresponding to the deleted layer is removed from the display unit 27.Accordingly, the editing device 20 can eliminate the user's need todelete unnecessary layer screens.

Each layer screen includes a label image and a base label border 89.Thus, the user can easily recognize the positions of overlay labels 42relative to the base label 41 when creating a composite label 49 withoverlay labels 42 to be affixed to the base label 41. Accordingly, theediting device 20 can reduce the possibility of overlay labels 42 beingaffixed to the base label 41 at unsuitable positions when the usercreates a composite label 49.

In the print preview 274, label images for layers whose print data hasalready been outputted to the tape printer 10 are displayed in a mannerthat differentiates them from label images corresponding to layers whoseprint data has not yet been outputted to the tape printer 10. In thisway, the editing device 20 can indicate the progress of printing to theuser.

In the embodiment described above, the display unit 27 is an example ofthe display in the present disclosure. The process to edit the printdata in the main process is an example of the (a) editing of the presentdisclosure. The process to acquire an object in S13 of FIG. 4 and S21 ofFIG. 7 is an example of the (a1) acquiring of the present disclosure.The process to acquire the printing color of the object in S13 of FIG. 4and S21 of FIG. 7 is an example of the (a2) determining of the presentdisclosure. The process to acquire the standard cassette information inS13 of FIG. 4 and the process to acquire the selected cassetteinformation in S21 of FIG. 7 are an example of the (a3) acquiring of thepresent disclosure. The process in S16 of FIG. 4 and S32 of FIG. 7 is anexample of the (a4) categorizing of the present disclosure. The tapecassette 30 accommodating the tape 40 corresponding to the layersubjected to the determination in S64 of FIG. 9 is an example of thetarget tape cassette of the present disclosure. The process to store theorientation and the shortest length of the overlay tape by whichprinting is acceptable in the RAM 24 is an example of the (a5) settingof the present disclosure. The process to confirm the change to theprint mode is an example of the (a6) setting of the present disclosure.The process to control the display unit 27 to display the full editingscreen thereon in S12 and S14 of FIG. 4 and S71 of FIG. 9 is an exampleof the (b) displaying.

The process in S11 of FIG. 4 is an example of the (a7) acquiring of thepresent disclosure. The process of S16 of FIG. 4 and S32 of FIG. 7 is anexample of the (a8) creating of the present disclosure. The process inS17 of FIG. 4 and S71 of FIG. 9 is an example of the (b1) displaying ofthe present disclosure. The process in S63 of FIG. 9 is an example ofthe (a9) combining of the present disclosure. The process in S38 of FIG.7 is an example of the (a10) receiving of the present disclosure. Theprocess in S40 of FIG. 7 is an example of the (a11) deleting of thepresent disclosure. The process in S71 of FIG. 9 is an example of the(b2) deleting of the present disclosure. The label images 84, 85, and 86are an example of the image of corresponding one of the at least oneoverlay label of the present disclosure. The process in S81 of FIG. 12is an example of the (c) receiving of the present disclosure. Theprocess in S82 and S88 of FIG. 12 is an example of the (d) displaying ofthe present disclosure. The process in S87 of FIG. 12 is an example ofthe (e) outputting of the present disclosure.

While the description has been made in detail with reference to specificembodiments thereof, it would be apparent to those skilled in the artthat many modifications and variations may be made thereto. For example,the present embodiment describes an example in which print data is newlygenerated and edited, but print data already in the process of editingmay be read from the flash memory 22 to be further edited. If the printdata under edit includes overlay objects in this case, the editingdevice 20 may display the full editing screen 271 and layer editingscreen 272 on the display unit 27 based on the print data under edit.

In the print preview 274 according to the present embodiment describedabove, label images are displayed in the order that the overlay labels42 are to be affixed to the base label 41. However, the label images mayinstead be arranged in the print preview 274 in the order that they willbe printed.

The editing device 20 may also be configured to change the order oflayers when the user operates the layer name indicators 91 using theinput unit 26. The order of layers corresponds to the order in which theoverlay labels 42 are affixed to the base label 41. Depending on whetherthe order between a base layer and a normal layer was changed or theorder among normal layers was changed, the processes performed afterwarddiffer. Specifically, if the order of abase layer and a normal layer waschanged, changes could also occur to the selected cassette, orientation,label length, base label border 89, and the like for each of all layers.In such a case, the CPU 21 performs the process beginning from S61 inFIG. 9 for all layers. If the order among normal layers is changed, theCPU 21 simply changes the display positions of the layer screens. Theuser may also modify the order of layers by using the input unit 26 tochange the displayed positions of the corresponding layer screens, forexample.

In the embodiment described above, the layer editing screen 272 isdisplayed over the full editing screen 271, but the layer editing screen272 and full editing screen 271 may be displayed side-by-side on thedisplay unit 27. Alternatively, the layer editing screen 272 may beomitted and layer screens may be displayed in section 62 of the fullediting screen 271. Additionally, the displayed format of the base labelborder 89 is not limited to that described in the embodiment. The baselabel border 89 may be represented by a solid line, for example, or maybe omitted altogether.

In the embodiment described above, label images corresponding to layersthat have been printed are displayed in the print preview 274 so as tobe distinguishable from label images corresponding to unprinted layers.Specifically, shading 98 is displayed over label images corresponding toprinted layers. Alternatively, the label images corresponding to printedlayers may be greyed out, highlighted with a continuous or blinkinglight, identified with a “printed” mark, or deleted from the printpreview 274.

The usage history of the tape cassette 30 may be accumulated in theflash memory 12 or flash memory 22. In such a case, the CPU 21 mayspecify candidates for tape cassettes 30 to be displayed in the selectedcassette information indicator 93 on the basis of their usage historiesstored in the flash memory 12 or flash memory 22. At the start of anediting process, information on the tape cassette 30 with the most usagehistory may be displayed in the selected cassette information indicator93 as the selected cassette information.

The tape printer 10 may be configured such that a plurality of types oftape cassettes 30 can be mounted therein simultaneously. Thisconfiguration eliminates the user's need to replace mounted cassetteseach time the printing color or tape width changes.

When an overlay object is removed in the present embodiment, the layerscreen corresponding to the deleted object is automatically removed fromthe layer editing screen 272 if the layer corresponding to the removedobject has no other objects. However, the layer screen may be preservedand only deleted when the user selects the corresponding Delete button96.

In the embodiment described above, the display unit 27 is capable ofdisplaying images in color, but the display unit 27 may instead beincapable of displaying color images. In this case, the display unit 27should depict colors in an identifiable manner, such as providing asymbol identifying a color in each object or each layer screen and bydefining the color that each symbol represents. As an alternative tosymbols, different colors may be represented using different types ofhatching, such as diagonal lines, horizontal lines, vertical lines, andthe like. The display unit 27 may also be provided as a separate unitfrom the editing device 20. In this case, the display unit 27 should becapable of communicating with the editing device 20, and the CPU 21 maytransmit commands to the display unit 27 to perform various displays.

In the embodiment described above, a warning is issued for awarning-targeted layer stored in the RAM 24 by displaying the warningicon 99 (see FIG. 10) in the layer screen in association with thewarning-targeted layer. However, a warning may be issued for thewarning-targeted layer by rendering the label image for thewarning-targeted layer so as to be distinguishable from other labelimages, or by outputting a sound or the like.

The user may perform an operation on the input unit 26 to select whetheran added object is to be assigned to the base tape (base layer) or theoverlay tape (normal layer). The user may also operate the input unit 26to select whether the orientation should be set to the parallelorientation or the orthogonal orientation.

In the embodiment described above, the CPU 21 acquires mounted cassetteinformation from the tape printer 10. However, the user may input themounted cassette information into the editing device 20 throughoperations on the input unit 26. In other words, the CPU 21 may acquiremounted cassette information inputted by the user through the input unit26. Further, in the embodiment described above, the CPU 11 of the tapeprinter 10 reads the mounted cassette information from theidentification part 32 via the reading device 18. However, the tapecassette 30 may be provided with a storage unit (RF tag, for example)that stores the mounted cassette information, and the CPU 11 may readthis mounted cassette information from the storage unit using thereading device 18. The user may also input mounted cassette informationinto the tape printer 10 through operations on the input unit 2. Inother words, the CPU 11 may acquire mounted cassette informationinputted by the user on the input unit 2. Thus, the method that the CPU21 acquires mounted cassette information is not limited to any one ofthese methods.

In the embodiment described above, the editing device 20 is connected tothe tape printer 10 via the network 100. However, the editing device 20may be connected to the tape printer 10 by a cable or the like. In theembodiment described above, the entire main process is executed on theediting device 20. However, all or some of the main process may beexecuted on the tape printer 10. In other words, the CPU 11 of the tapeprinter 10 may execute all or some of the main process. In this case,the CPU 11 may display the full editing screen 271, layer editing screen272, confirmation screen 273, print preview 274, and the like on thedisplay unit 3 of the tape printer 10.

In place of the CPU 21, the editing device 20 may employ amicrocomputer, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs),field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or the like as the controller.Portions of the main process may be distributed among a plurality ofcontrollers or processors. The non-transitory storage medium may be anystorage medium capable of holding information, regardless of theduration that the information is stored. The non-transitory storagemedium need not include transitory storage media (conveyed signals, forexample). The program may be downloaded from a server connected to thenetwork 100 (i.e., transmitted as a transmission signal) and stored inthe flash memory 22, for example. In this case, the program may be savedin a non-transitory storage medium, such as a hard disk drive providedin the server. The variations described above may be combined in any waythat does not produce inconsistencies.

What is claimed is:
 1. An editing device comprising a controllerconfigured to perform: (a) editing print data for creating a compositelabel with a printer to which a tape cassette accommodating therein atape and an ink ribbon is attachable, the tape extending in alongitudinal direction and having a tape width in a width directionorthogonal to the longitudinal direction, the ink ribbon having an inkcolor, the printer being configured to perform a single printingoperation using the ink ribbon to print an object on the tape in asingle printing color thereby creating a single label, the singleprinting color being identical to the ink color of the ink ribbon, thecomposite label having a plurality of labels including a base label andat least one overlay label and being created by affixing the at leastone overlay label to the base label, the (a) editing comprising: (a1)acquiring a plurality of pieces of object data corresponding torespective ones of a plurality of objects, the plurality of pieces ofobject data representing respective ones of a plurality of objectimages, each of the plurality of object images being rendered in thesingle printing color, the print data being created using the pluralityof pieces of object data; (a2) determining a printing color of a targetobject, the target object being selected one by one from among theplurality of objects; (a3) acquiring tape information on a target tapecassette to be used for printing the target object with the printer, thetarget tape cassette accommodating therein a target tape and a targetink ribbon, the target ink ribbon having the ink color identical to theprinting color of the target object, the tape information of the targettape including width information indicating the tape width of the targettape and opacity information indicating whether the target tape isopaque; (a4) categorizing the target object to one of a base object andan overlay object according to the printing color of the target objectand the tape information of the target tape, the plurality of objectsbeing respectively categorized to a single base object and at least oneoverlay object; (a5) setting, in response to categorizing the targetobject to the overlay object, a target tape length and a target tapeorientation, the target tape length being a length in the longitudinaldirection of the target tape used for creating the overlay label; and(a6) setting a print mode to one of a shortest length mode in which asingle overlay label is created for each overlay object and a fewestprints mode in which a single overlay label is created for all overlayobjects each of which has a same printing color; and (b) displaying acomposite label image of the composite label based on the print data ona display.
 2. The editing device according to claim 1, wherein the (a)editing further comprises: (a7) acquiring mounted cassette informationon a mounted tape cassette currently attached to the printer, themounted tape cassette accommodating therein a mounted tape and a mountedink ribbon, the mounted cassette information including the tapeinformation of the mounted tape and the ink color of the mounted inkribbon, wherein the (a4) categorizing categorizes the target objectaccording to the tape information of the mounted tape and the ink colorof the mounted ink ribbon in addition to the printing color of thetarget object and the tape information of the target tape.
 3. Theediting device according to claim 1, wherein the (a) editing furthercomprises: (a8) creating one of a base layer and an overlay layercorresponding to the target object, the base layer being created inresponse to categorizing the target object to the base object, theoverlay layer being created in response to categorizing the targetobject to the overlay object, a plurality of layers including the baselayer and at least one overlay layer being created corresponding torespective ones of the plurality of objects; and wherein the (b)displaying comprises: (b1) displaying on the display a layer previewscreen based on the print data, the layer preview screen comprising aplurality of layer previews including a base layer preview correspondingto the base layer and at least one overlay layer preview correspondingto respective ones of the at least one overlay layer.
 4. The editingdevice according to claim 3, wherein the (a) editing further comprises:(a9) combining, in response to setting the print mode to the fewestprints mode, one or more overlay layers corresponding to respective onesof one or more overlay objects each of which has a same printing colorinto a single overlay layer, the single overlay layer corresponding toone of the at least one overlay label, and wherein the (b1) displayingdisplays on the display the layer preview screen comprising the baselayer preview corresponding to the base label and at least one overlaylayer preview corresponding to respective ones of the at least oneoverlay label.
 5. The editing device according to claim 3, wherein the(a8) creating creates, in response to setting the print mode to theshortest length mode, a separate layer corresponding to each of theplurality of objects, and wherein the (b1) displaying displays the layerpreview screen comprising a separate layer preview corresponding to theseparate layer.
 6. The editing device according to claim 3, wherein the(a) editing further comprises: (a10) receiving deletion of one of theplurality of objects; and (a11) deleting, in response to receiving thedeletion of the one of the plurality of objects after the (a8) creatingcreates the plurality of layers, one of the plurality of layerscorresponding to the deleted one of the plurality of objects, andwherein the (b) displaying further comprises: (b2) deleting, in responseto the (a11) deleting being performed while the (b1) displaying displaysthe layer preview screen comprising the plurality of layer previewscorresponding to respective ones of the plurality of objects, a layerpreview corresponding to the deleted one of the plurality of objectsfrom the layer preview screen.
 7. The editing device according to claim3, wherein each of the at least one overlay layer preview includes animage of corresponding one of the at least one overlay label and a baselabel border indicating an outer shape of the base label in thecomposite label.
 8. The editing device according to claim 3, wherein the(a8) creating creates the plurality of layers corresponding torespective ones of the plurality of labels in the composite label, andthe (b1) displaying displays the layer preview screen comprising theplurality of layer previews corresponding to respective ones of theplurality of labels, wherein the controller is configured to furtherperform: (c) receiving a command for outputting the print data to theprinter; (d) displaying, in response to the command, on the display aprint preview screen based on the print data, the print preview screenincluding a list of a plurality of label images corresponding torespective ones of the plurality of layer previews included in the layerpreview screen; and (e) outputting, in response to the command, to theprinter the print data for each of the plurality of label images, andwherein the (d) displaying displays a label image for which the (e)outputting has outputted the print data so as to be distinguishable froma label image for which the (e) outputting has not outputted the printdata.